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Image credit: FEI / Ben Clark
With just three days until the eventing competition gets underway, the best of the world’s eventers have begun to arrive in Versailles.
The eventing horses have been stabled at pre-games bases around northern France in order to reduce their travel time ahead of the games, with many spending the last few days, or even weeks, in training camps nearby.

Team GB horses arrive at the Chateau de Versailles. Photo credit: FEI / Ben Clark
However, ahead of the first horse inspection on Friday, the three-day eventers today arrived at their home for the next week. For now they’ve got the complex to themselves, with the dressage horses arriving on Friday and showjumpers on Sunday. Let’s take a look behind the scenes at the five-star accommodation the horses will be enjoying…
- Each horse has a 4x3m stable with rubber mats and locally sourced straw of shavings.
- There’s dedicated space for hand grazing, although horses won’t be able to be turned out while on-site.
- Three all-weather arenas lunge arenas
- Six exercise areas, including one undercover
- Gallop track
- While many teams travel with a crew including vets, farriers and physios, there are specialised facilities on site, including experienced farriers to provide individually adapted hoof care.
- A world-class veterinary team is on standby, ready to provide top-notch care and support for the equine athletes. With a full-time staff that includes specialised vets, imaging experts, and physical therapists, the horses at Versailles will receive the best medical attention if needed.

Yasmin Ingham and Banzai du Loir have a leg stretch behind the Versailles grandstands after arriving on-site today. Photo credit: Jon Stroud Media / British Equestrian

London 52 and groom Tilly Hughes head to the stables in Versailles. Photo credit: Jon Stood Media / British Equestrian

Ros Canter and Lordships Graffalo test out the Versailles warm-up arenas with coach Chris Bartle. Photo credit: Jon Stroud Media / British Equestrian
Keeping cool
The temperatures in the high twenties this week, and more warm, sunny weather forecast for next week, the horses will benefit from the state-of-the-art cooling systems that have been installed in their stables.
The FEI has advanced climate monitoring using the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) index. When temperatures rise, heat mitigation protocols can be implemented. They were shown to be very effective during the Tokyo 2020 Games, keeping the equine athletes cool and comfortable, and include strategically placed shade tents, misting fans, and mobile cooling units that are scattered throughout the venue. In addition, there are plenty of water points and wash-down areas.
Horses will also be monitored using cutting-edge thermal imaging technology to detect and prevent overheating

Michael Jung (GER) and Chipmunk FRH arriving at the Chateau de Versailles. Photo credit: FEI / Ben Clark
Staying safe
With so many horses coming together in one place, strict biosecurity measures are in place in order to keep everyone safe. The FEI Veterinary Commission and a dedicated biosecurity team oversee the plans, which include daily health checks for all horses, temperature monitoring, and thorough cleaning and disinfection practices.
FEI Veterinary Director Göran Åkerström explains, “The monitoring of Olympic horses begins 15 days prior to their arrival at the venue. Each team is required to take and record their horse’s temperature daily using the FEI Horse App. Upon arrival, the horses are unloaded and examined by the Paris 2024 Veterinary Team to ensure they are in good health. Horses that pass this examination are installed in the stables by discipline, while those that do not are placed in isolation stables. Follow-up monitoring continues for 15 days after they leave the venue to ensure traceability for biosecurity reasons.”